CLEVELAND ? After averaging 13.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in the Thundering Herd?s season-opening Fifth Third MU Classic title run, Marshall forward Crystal Champion (Washington, D.C.) has been named the year?s first Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week.

Champion, a sophomore, was named tournament MVP thanks in part to her 14-point, 11-rebound performance in Saturday?s championship game versus Lehigh at the Cam Henderson Center. That effort produced career highs in points, rebounds, field goals and attempts (7-for-10) and minutes played (25). It also proved to be Champion?s first career double-double, leading to her first career MAC East Division Player of the Week nod.

Champion?s team-leading rebound total on Saturday guided Marshall to a 33-26 advantage on the glass and helped the Herd to a thrilling 68-66 win over the Mountain Hawks. It was Marshall?s third straight Fifth Third MU Classic championship.

In Friday?s semifinal matchup with Texas-Pan American, Champion went a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor for 12 points with seven rebounds. She connected on 81 percent of her shots for the weekend.

Marshall (2-0) will continue tournament play this weekend when it travels to Binghamton University?s Time Warner Classic. The Herd will take on the host BU Bearcats at 3 p.m. on Saturday before playing either Robert Morris or Brown on Sunday.